With the 11.30 advisories, Dean seems to be on track still, not hitting the coast line of the DR, but passing still too close for comfort. It is early days and the track may still change. In fact, if you speak to anyone who has lived in a hurricane area for a long time, they will tell you to watch and wait. We'll have to see how it turns out and at what size and strength the storm is by Sunday.
To answer some questions and pm's in no particular order of importance ... would some of the experienced DR'ers please help answering if I'm way off base ...
- For folks travelling at the time, I would say follow the instructions of your airline. The airlines in my experience are experienced with these weather systems. Of course, if by Saturday things seem worse, don't fly in.
- Hurricanes can last for 12 hours or so over a specific area. Obviously if there is a direct hit, the aftermath lasts for weeks, months and even years.
- Higuey may be a safe harbor, it may be not .. to early to tell. Inland is safe.
- Up North, depends how large and how strong the storm is -- perhaps the North sees clouds, or sunshine, or lots of rain ... to early to tell, we'll see how big this tormenta decides to be.
- No way am I going to invest in hurricane futures. These days I think the safe haven is gold
fwiw.
- The formal word from the Instituto Dominicano de Aviacion Civil, Oficina Nacional de Meteorología, División de Meteorologiá Sinóptica y Pronósticos is as follows : POR SU POSICIÓN Y DISTANCIA, ESTA TORMENTA NO OFRECE PELIGRO POR EL MOMENTO PARA LA REPUBLICA DOMINICANA.
I hope they mean the 'por el momento' very literally, i.e, as in today and tomorrow...
some answers
tropical storm dean
